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Category: The general angst/h/c and maybe mystery?

Rating: PG13 should do

Summary: Nick is returning from Portland. Accident happens. There will be a ghost, a girl and something more - just read.

Spoilers: Mention of the Vampires so probably the third season.

Author´s notes: I should thank to Kayleigh, who beta read this fic and made sure you can understood. Also to all of you who reviewed my other fics too, it gave me courage to continue.

Noble Memoirs

by Nicol Leoraine

Part 1

Nick Boyle was sitting in his red Mustang and heading back to the castle on Angel Island. He was just returning from Portland, where he spent the last week, assigned as a short term replacement of one of the members, who died in a car crash. Nick knew Gerry from his childhood, Jonathan Boyle once worked with Gerry´s father, and if they had a common case, Nick and Gerry were often put together to amuse themselves.

Nick and Gerry were good friends, even though they didn´t maintain a lot of contact with each other. The House in Portland asked for help in one case, and Derek sent Nick, knowing that he wanted to be at the funeral. In the meantime, Philip Callaghan joined the San Francisco house for a few weeks. Nick wanted to be home, he was tired from everything. The team in Portland needed more psychological support than practical help and Nick felt drained. So even if he was still mad at Philip for his departure, he also longed to see his friend. Knowing that Gerry didn´t have the time to make piece with the loved ones, he wasn´t going to make the same mistake.

He was already late for the dinner, delayed because of the accident on the interstate - Nick only hoped, that he was going to catch the ferry, otherwise he´d sleep at the hotel. After almost an eight hour long travel, it was as inviting as his own bed would be. Though when he remembered the wreck of those three cars, along with the reversed camion, he throttled back. It was becoming dark and the last thing he wanted was to end up in an accident. He tried to think about something better than dead bodies, but the only thing coming to his mind was Gerry.

Everything suggested it was an accident, but there was no brake trail of the other car, they only found the wreck with a dead member of the Legacy impaled to the tree on the straight road. It looked like Gerry fell asleep behind the wheel or simply lost control. The uncertainty concerning his death troubled the members of the Portland House even more.

Nick turned away from these thoughts, he had a bad feeling about them - like it wasn´t the end yet. Truthfully, he was sorry that he didn´t contact Gerry in almost a year. He rather concentrated on the road. Another half hour till the ferry, and if he was lucky, he should be home in an hour. Turning on the radio, a song from Aerosmith filled the inside of the car, while a lonely motorcycle appeared on the road. It was heading straight at him, as if the man driving it was blind. Nick turned to the left, expecting the bike was going to stay in its original side of the road, but he followed him to the left trail instead. The distance between them was closing up and Nick felt panic building up inside him. In the last second Nick saw the driver´s face and sharply turned the wheel, sending his car to the right in a spinning motion, as he skidded, straight to the scarp. Nick´s Mustang rolled over few times, finally stopping in the ditch. The bike continued on the road.

The last thing Nick´s mind played out was an image of Gerry´s bloodied body in a wrecked car. After that there was only black nothingness.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Derek was eagerly awaiting Nick´s return, he wanted to find out what really happened in Portland. Nick called him three hours ago to tell him he was on the way and that he should be home before dinner at six. The signal had been bad however and Derek didn´t get a chance to talk to him about Portland.

He now nervously paced in his workroom and tried to think about anything, only to realize he couldn´t focus. He wanted to talk to Nick because of Portland, but the reality was, Derek had a nagging feeling of unease in his stomach and he only wanted for all of the members of the Legacy to be in the safety of the House.

"What´s wrong Philip?" asked Derek as the young priest peeked inside the room.

"Nothing, I just wanted to tell you dinner´s ready. Mitchell is asking if he should serve the food or rather wait up for Nick."

"The last ferry should head out in ten minutes we´ll wait, maybe Nick is on it."

Philip saw Derek was nervous, but he didn´t know why. Nick used to get late but Derek never reacted in such a way before.

"What´s going on, Derek?"

The Precept looked at Philip, feigning innocence.

"What do you mean, Philip?"

"You should tell me, Derek. You´re riding the fence here."

Derek smiled. "I´m just a little nervous, nothing more. I´m waiting for Nick."

Philip shrugged. "He´s always late. Maybe he got into snarl-up, you saw that big accident on the interstate? They had to divert the traffic and Nick was certainly there. He was probably trying to find the quickest way home and got lost."

"You´re probably right, Philip. I just have this weird feeling..."

"What feeling?"

"Never mind, Philip. I´m sure Nick will return any moment."

"Why don´t you call him?"

"I tried a few minutes ago. His phone was probably turned off - or he forgot to charge the batteries," Derek and Philip shared a short smile, though Derek still looked nervous.

"I´ll go and tell Mitchell to wait up with the dinner," said Philip and left Derek alone, knowing he´ll calm down only when Nick storms in, cursing at the traffic and asking for the food. After talking with the butler, Philip walked to the parlour and sat down to play chess with Kat. Derek resumed his pacing in the office, looking at his watch.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

On the same road Nick chose as a short cut, a young couple was driving home. Anne and Richard Closen were returning from their first visit to Anne´s parents. They were in a good mood, because the visit succeeded, as her parents almost instantly fell for Richard. It was a work of few good handled jokes and maybe the remainder of her last partners. They were both glad and tired from the road. They were quietly listening to the radio, only once in a while someone switched the station.

Anne was half sleeping, when Richard spotted a man, waving at him from the side of the road. He slowed down, almost stopping, and woke her up.

"Anne, look, there´s a man and he´s waving,"

Anne blinked, trying to see something. She shook her head, winking at the darkness.

"Richard, I see just the car."

Richard took another look, and really - the man was gone, though there was a car in the ditch.

"We should stop," he said and stepped to the breaks.

"I don´t know, Richard. It can be dangerous."

"What if there´s someone injured and needs help? I can´t leave,"

"Okay, we´ll look," said Anne with fear written in her eyes. Richard got out of the car, but when Anne wanted to do the same, he stopped her.

"No, you stay in the car. If anything, lock the doors."

Anne wanted to protest, but she realized that she was too afraid, though after Richard took few steps from the car, she was next to him.

"Wait. Take the light," and she handed him a flashlight.

"Thanks, I didn´t think about it," he smiled and headed for the car, Anne close on his heels, she didn´t feel like standing in the car anymore.

Coming closer, they could see the state of the car and it made them considerably slow down, as Richard aimed the beam to the driver´s seat.

Anne screamed as the light showed a bloodied figure of a young man. Richard reached out, trying the pulse on his neck. The man was alive, though he looked dead. Richard, pale and shaking, turned back to Anne, talking a little louder than he wanted.

"Anne, go back to the car and bring me my cell phone. He´s still alive, we have to call an ambulance and the police."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The last ferry was gone and Nick still wasn´t there. Mitchell served the dinner, though Derek excused himself. He nervously paced the room, trying to call Nick on his cell phone every ten minutes, but he was inaccessible. It could mean anything - Nick could be in a tunnel, or not getting the signal, his cell phone wasn´t working. Derek really hoped it was not the last. After another half hour he was contemplating to call the police, when the phone ringed and startled the Precept.

"Nick?" he asked with hope, but the voice on the other side wasn´t Nick´s.

"I´m sorry, but it´s lieutenant Preston. I need to talk with a .... Derek Rayne."

Derek felt cold fingers running up his spine.

"That´s me. What can I do for you, lieutenant Preston?"

"I take it you know a certain Nicholas Patrick Boyle?"

It sounded as if Preston was reading the name from papers and Derek gulped. "Yes. Is he all right?"

"He had an accident. You´re listed as his contact person in his file."

Those words were the last thing he wanted to hear, but it was still better than be asked to make an identification.

"Accident? How is he?"

"Alive, though he´s probably in a serious condition. They´re on their way to the hospital."

"Which one?"

"To the Memorial. I´ll need his statement - of course, if he´s able to give me one. I´m on my way there, maybe we could meet in the hospital."

"Of course, lieutenant. I´ll see you later." Derek finished the call and took a deep breath. He needed to talk with the others, then get as quickly as he could to the Memorial.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It took them forty minutes to reach Memorial after the call from Lieutenant Preston, only Kat stayed in the castle with Mitchell. Rachel trotted away to find out who Nick´s doctor was, while the others stayed in the waiting room. The emergency room was really hectic as it was the Friday night. Rachel returned in a moment, though she didn´t look very calm.

"How is he?"

"The good news is, he´s in the care of Dr. Jason Goddard,"

Derek let out a sigh of relief. He knew Dr. Goddard from earlier experience with the Legacy - Goddard knew Jonathan Boyle and treated Nick after the incident with Alex and the vampires. Jason was reliable.

"So how´s Nick?" Philip repeated the question.

"That´s the other thing. I couldn´t get them talk to me, but Dr. Goddard should meet with us in few minutes."

A lot later then anyone of them would´ve liked, Dr. Goddard emerged from the lounge and with a tired but reassuring smile walked over to Derek.

"I´m sorry we´re meeting only under these circumstances, Derek."

"Me too. How´s Nick?"

"He´s stable. Three broken ribs, many bruises. What´s troubling me more is the tiny hairline fracture in the skull, he´s still unconscious. I´m afraid there could be some brain damage-" Dr. Goddard raised his hand hearing Alex gasp. "As I said - it´s not a rule. I´m just trying to prepare you."

"How serious could the brain damage be?"

"If there´s any?" added Philip to the question, glaring at his Precept. Derek shrugged apologetically.

"I rather not get into details right now, Derek. Just be warned - he can be confused. If I know him from my last experience, this can very quickly change into frustration and anger. But we will talk about it after I can make a complete neurological examination once he wakes up."

"So he is out of danger?"

"Without complications, he should be all right. But head injuries can be tricky."

"Can we see him?"

"Only two at a time, but I´ll let the nurse staff know you´re allowed to stay even after visiting hours."

"Thanks, Jason. I really appreciate your help."

"You´re welcome, and it´s my job. You need to wait few minutes while he´s settled, the nurse will call you. He´s in room number 172." Without more words the doctor gave them a nod and left for his duties, while the foursome awaited the nurse.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

An Hour later only Alex and Derek were in Nick´s room, waiting. They were sitting there for the last twenty minutes while Rachel left to call Kat, trying to calm her daughter and assure her Nick was going to be all right. Philip saw his young friend for a few minutes, then left so Alex could sit with him. Nick was pale, the IV and a pulse/ox attached to his left arm. A heavy white bandage circled his head, few stray wisps of dark hair falling on it. It didn´t manage to cover the whole bruise colouring Nick´s left temple, stretching down to his face and melting with the hair above his ear. If not for this, he would´ve looked normal - just sleeping. But it was much deeper than sleep, and despite the yearning of his friends, Nick remained unconscious.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Dark and cold ruled in Nick´s world. His mind was attacked by the weirdest images he ever saw. He was scared, feeling totally lost, not knowing where he was or how he got there. But the worst thing was he didn´t know how to get out!

It felt like an eternity before the voices first came. He tried to concentrate on them, knowing - feeling, they were his only chance to get out. After a while he started to distinguish sounds and speech, he could even tell it was a woman and a man with a weird accent. They were talking in hushed voices but he still heard them. It was hard to understand at first, he could only tell they were concerned for someone. Not knowing how much later, the noises started to make sense, forming into words, then sentences.

Though there was someone else - a man. His voice was strong and clear and Nick reached for it without hesitation. He was telling him to open his eyes, urging persistently. Nick tried to overcome the weariness and lifted his eyelids - only a bit. Something moved and he blinked, trying to clear his vision. Frowning, he looked up to the faces of two strangers.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

It was the fourth presence that made him look around. The perplexed look on his face matched the one on the face of his colleague.

"You felt it too Alex?" he asked her.

"Yes. As if someone just came in. But I don´t feel it anymore. What about you?"

Derek only shook his head and let it drop as he was captured by Nick. Alex also spotted the movement and leaned towards Nick, trying to evoke some reaction.

"Nick, come on, open up your eyes," she urged him and soon Derek joined her.

"It´s really time to come back to the world of living, Nick," encouraged the Precept. They watched as the young man blinked, trying to clear his vision, then looked around with a confused look.

"W-what happened?" it was a mere whisper, though it brought relief to Alex and Derek.

"You had an accident."

"Accident?" Nick frowned and a look of panic crossed his face. "Where am I?"

"In the Memorial Hospital. You don´t remember what happened?"

Nick shook his head, instantly moaning as pain shot through his head.

"It´s okay, Nick. Lie still."

"Was... anyone else hurt?"

"Your car ended up in a ditch, nobody else was there," assured Derek, putting the question aside, thinking Nick was just a little confused.

"Philip and Rachel are waiting outside - I think we should tell them you´re awake," Alex beamed but stopped dead in her tracks, hearing Nick ask in a weary voice:

"Who are they?"

"Nick?"

Alex turned and Derek felt a tight grip on his heart.

"Do you know who we are?" He gave the question which came to his mind. Nick looked him straight into the face, concentrating, then after a painful minute of silence said a soft "No. I don´t know you. Should I?"

Alex gasped, tears welling up in her eyes as Nick was starting to get agitated.

"I don´t understand. Who are you and what are you doing here?" Nick´s voice raised and he flinched, grabbing his head, but still demanded an answer.

"Alex, go get Jason," the Precept ordered and Alex was gone, hoping it was all just some bad joke, or maybe an effect of the medication Nick was given. Derek stayed in the room with Nick, who watched him with suspicion.

"You didn´t answer my question. Who are you?"

Derek sighed, not knowing what to do. Should he tell Nick who he really was or rather wait for Dr. Goddard?

"I´m Derek Rayne."

"Oh," mumbled Nick, not sure if it meant something. "You´re from the police?"

"No," Derek replied, trying to hide his disappointment. "I´m not from the police, though I think there will be someone from them wanting to take your statement."

"I don´t remember it," Nick stated with a growing discomfort. He looked around, trying to orientate himself and make order from the chaos in his mind. His eyes stopped on the stranger, sitting on the chair next to him, and questions started to pop out.

"Why are you here?"

Before Derek came up with a reliable answer, the doors opened and Jason Goddard walked in along with Alex and Philip. Rachel was still on the phone with her daughter.

"It´s good to see you awake. I´m Dr. Goddard, your attending physician."

Nick blinked, at least someone who worked at this place, he thought wearily, noticing the other two figures standing by the door.

"Who are those people?" he asked, looking at Derek.

"I´m sure they´ll tell you - later," Dr. Goddard turned to the others. "I think it will be better if you leave us, please. You may return later."

Both Alex and Philip turned and left, only Derek lingered by the door.

"I would like to stay, please," he asked and the doctor turned to Nick.

"Do you agree with it?"

Nick was thinking. It wasn´t an usual request, but Nick was a member of the Legacy, and even if he didn´t know it, Derek Rayne was his Precept. If there was something which could jeopardize the Legacy, he had the right to know. Though if Nick was not going to accept it, Derek would have to go.

"He... can stay," Nick replied, perplexed and curious as to the intentions of that man. "But... I want to know why he´s here."

Derek nodded, letting a slight smile touch his face. Dr. Goddard turned back to his patient.

"You know what happened?"

"This man told me about some accident, but I don´t remember."

"Yes, your car ended up in a ditch. You sustained a pretty bad blow to the head, a skull fractur which caused a concussion, along with a few broken ribs."

The doctor pulled out a small penlight and shone it into his eyes, then started to check out his reflexes, giving him simple questions.

"How is your vision?"

"Blurry," conceded Nick and pulled away from the probing touch.

"It will pass," assured the doctor.

"Can you tell me what is the year?"

"1998."

"Good. Now do you know in what city you are?"

Nick´s brow furrowed.

"I - don´t know. But we´re in the States?"

"San Francisco. What state is it in?"

"California," Nick said, relieved he knew at least something, when it occurred to him how strange the questions were and his own answers. He should´ve known in which city he was, or not?

"Why are you asking those things?"

"I want to know the extent of your amnesia."

"What?" exclaimed Nick sharply.

"Memory loss. Now - try and tell me what´s the last thing you remember?"

Nick was silent and Derek saw the sweat glistening on his skin, so hard he tried to remember. When his hands started to shake, and Nick´s breathing was coming out in short gasps, Derek made a step toward his bed. Dr. Goddard reached out to Nick.

"Nothing. I don´t remember a thing," Nick said in a whisper, confusion in his eyes quickly changing to fear.

"Why... why can´t I remember?"

"Can you tell me your name?" probed the doctor again and the fear became panic as Nick´s whole body started shaking.

"No," he muttered, crestfallen. "I don´t know my own name. Why don´t I know it?!" the whisper grew to a shout.

"Nick, it´s all right. Relax, everything will be okay," the doctor tried to calm him down, but Nick was too nervous to listen. Goddard reached out, taking Nick´s head into his hands, and turned it, so the boy had to look into his eyes. When he was sure he had his attention, the doctor continued.

"Okay, now listen. Your name is Nicholas Patrick Boyle, you understand?"

Nick let it go through his head.

"I don´t remember," he repeated. "Why?"

"You had a bad accident. While it is not usual to sustain such memory loss, it happens. We´ll need to take a few tests, but I can tell you´re suffering from retrograde amnesia. That means you forgot all about your past, but should be able to remember things that happens now. The important thing is - your memory can return."

"When?" Nick asked sheepishly.

"Maybe tomorrow, maybe in the next week. I can´t answer you that question."

Nick nodded and tried to calm down, though it was hard when he constantly tried to jog some memories. The effort only served to increase his headache and the pressure was building up inside his skull, so the doctor pushed the call button, and ordered the nurse to bring some medication.

Derek watched it from the corner, unable to say anything.

"Now listen to me, Nick. I know the situation is scary, but you don´t have to be afraid. You´re not alone, there are people who know you and who will help you return to your normal life." He glanced to Derek.

"You have a place to go home. Do you understand me?"

Nick nodded, looking at Derek with new eyes. He tried to put the face somewhere in his mind, but it kept popping up the word "stranger". When the nurse came in with a syringe, Nick nearly jumped from the bed.

"It´s just something to help you relax, Nick. Pain medication," explained Dr. Goddard, as he inserted the liquid into his IV push.

"It can make you sleepy, don´t fight it. You need rest and tomorrow it will be better."

Nick didn´t believe him, but as he didn´t have any recollection of his past, it was hard to object. He had to trust those strangers, and somehow the thought alone made him nervous. But the sedatives kicked in and he fell into a deep, undisturbed sleep without dreams.

Dr. Goddard satisfactorily watched as his breathing slowed, then scribbled something into his chart. He indicated Derek to follow him outside, where the others impatiently circled them, waiting for the answers. Evidently Alex told them what happened inside.

"To answer your questions, Mr. Boyle suffers from memory loss. He doesn´t remember his past, though it looks like his knowledge is intact. We´ll take more tests in the morning."

"What contributed to the amnesia?" Rachel Corrigan asked.

"As you can guess, Dr. Corrigan," Goddard turned to her, "I doubt it was due to the physical injury. I had a few cases of memory loss, but those were the result of an injury to the hippocampus." While Rachel probably knew what he was talking about, the others just blinked.

"The hippocampus is located in the temporal lobe of the brain, so the damage would be localized to that area if the person had no other problems. The two cases I know of were the result of brain surgery for epilepsy where they purposely took out the temporal lobes of the brain to stop the seizures and a stroke. While the concussion can be a sign of brain damage, I doubt that´s Nick´s case."

"So why doesn´t he remember?"

"That´s more to Dr. Corrigan to explain, as psychiatry is her field."

All eyes turned at Rachel, only Philip was looking at Dr. Goddard.

"You imply that his memory loss is a psychological problem? That´s ludicrous," protested the young priest. "Nick is not crazy, he had an accident!"

"I´m not saying he´s crazy," Dr. Goddard objected.

"Philip," stopped him Rachel. "Dr. Goddard is right. I met with several cases of memory loss that were brought up by some traumatic incident. It´s like a protection, when the mind shuts down. Though it´s more often a short-term memory loss - that the person doesn´t remember the accident."

"Will his memory come back?" asked Derek.

"The brain is a tricky matter, Derek, as well as the psychic state of him. He can remember instantly, or by pieces. There´s also a chance he´ll never be the same person as he was once. The important thing is to try and help him return to his normal life - with or without the memories," quipped Dr. Goddard. "Be there when he needs you, and don´t press on him."

Everything that was said only deepened the concern of the team, as they all felt the dread of the possibility, that Nick would never be the same again. But no one was more bothered by it than Derek. As the Precept of the House, it was his responsibility to keep the members of his team safe, as well as the Legacy. But if Nick´s memory wouldn´t return, he´ll have to make some hard decisions.

"Can we see him?" the question brought him from his reverie.

"No, he´s already sleeping. You can come tomorrow, but if he doesn´t want to see you, I can´t force him."

"He´ll want to know who he is," Philip said with more confidence than he really felt.

"How long will he have to stay here?"

"Three, maybe four days."

Derek nodded and Dr. Goddard left them alone. The others stayed a while longer, contemplating his words in silence.

"We should go home, it´s getting late."

"I agree with you Philip, but I need to talk to someone."

"Who?"

"Lieutenant Preston. The problem is... I don´t know where to find him."

"I´m here," said a voice from behind Derek. He turned and saw a tall lean man with bald head walking towards them. He had a modal smile on his face, when they shook hands.

"I think you´re looking for me, Mr. Rayne. I´m Jim Preston."

Derek nodded and introduced the others.

"You wanted to talk to me."

"Yeah, about the accident of your friend, Mr. Boyle. Is he awake yet?"

"No, he´s sleeping. But I must disappoint you, Lieutenant. He can´t give you a statement."

"Why not?"

"He suffered amnesia. Doesn´t even know his name," Philip said grimly.

"Hmmm, that´s bad."

"Can you tell us what happened?" Derek asked.

"Sorry, but no. His statement was crucial to discover the cause of the accident, but now... we´ll have to leave it to technicians. Did the doctor tell you, if there´s a chance of him regaining his memories?"

"He doesn´t know either. But it would help us if we knew as much as possible - maybe it will stir something in Nick later."

The cop eyed him suspiciously, but saw only sincere concern.

"A young couple found his car in the ditch, upside down. They called the ambulance and police. There were no trails of an other car. It looked like Mr. Boyle was driving on the bad side of the road, then quickly returned to his strip and put on the brake, but his car got into a skid."

"Why would he do it? Nick is not a reckless driver,"

"No, it looks like someone was on the road, but there weren´t any brake trails. There´s also something else."

"What?"

"Mr. Closen, the one who called the ambulance, said that actually, the first thing he saw was a man, standing by the road and waving at them. But when his fiancee looked, she saw only the car. It´s a mystery who was that man and where he went."

"Could it be the one who caused the accident?" suggested Philip but the lieutenant shook his head.

"There was no other car. If there really was someone, he sure wasn´t waiting for the cops to come."

"Do you have a description?"

"No, it was dark, Mr. Closen could tell us only it was a man."

"Is there an investigation?"

"Of course, but if Mr. Boyle doesn´t regain his memories, I bet it won´t get solved. I´m sorry, but it will be put and marked as an accident." Just then his pager went off and he excused himself.

"If anything, just call me. Here´s my number," he handed Derek his card and left.

"We should also return to the house," Derek said. Nobody protested, and they left Nick, secretly hoping, that when they´ll return few hours later, Nick´s memories will return with them.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Well folks, that´s for now. Just don´t forget to review, please - or write a mail. I really need some encouragement right now:-)